Candidates declared intentions to run for open seats in the April 7, 2026, election in St. James, including five alderman positions with varied terms, three board of education seats and two openings on the ambulance board of directors. 

St. James City Clerk Linda Cochran reported on Dec. 15 that incumbents Aldermen Tyler Wagnon for Ward 1 and Steve Hutchcraft for Ward 4 will be running for re-election.

Recently appointed to the unfulfilled position vacated by Scott Coleman, Hutchcraft will vacate his current unfulfilled one-year term and has declared for the two-year term. No one declared for the one-year term in Ward 4 by the Saint James Press’s deadline. 

Seats in Ward 2, Ward 3 and Ward 4 are open with no declared candidates.

In Ward 2, a two-year term is currently held by Mark Gray. Ward 3 has a seat with a two-year term held by Isaiah Wills. Two seats will be open for Ward 4, one for a two-year term and a one-year term. 

Declarations for candidacy will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Dec. 30 at City Hall, 100 Jefferson St, St. James.

The St. James R-1 Board of Education has three seats up each with a three-year term.

Board secretary Shannon Parsons reported on Dec. 9 that Kendra Swee and incumbent Melanie Davis have filed for positions.

The three board of education seats are currently held by Davis, Jon Rapp and Wes Gahr.

Candidates who wish to serve on the school board must be tax-paying residents of the district. In order to run for office, a candidate must be 24 years old, a U.S. citizen, reside in Missouri and the district for one year. Those qualified should file in person with the board secretary at 122 E. Scioto Street, St. James.

The names of qualified candidates shall be placed on the ballot in order of filing, except for candidates who file a declaration before 5 p.m. on the first day, in which case names will be drawn randomly to determine the order they are listed on the ballot. 

Filing is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Dec. 30 at the Administration Building.

Filing will be unavailable when the district office is closed for the holidays from Monday, Dec. 22-29, or due to inclement weather.

No one has declared intentions to run for open seats on the St. James Ambulance Board of Directors. Two positions are available, each with a three-year term. Seats are currently held by Tammy Yamnitz for sub-district No. 3 and Jennifer Rabenau for sub-district No. 6, both of whom plan to run for re-election. 

Interested individuals may obtain more information about the election process by visiting 203 S. Louise Ave., St. James, on Mondays from 1 to 4 p.m., or call EMS Chief Jennifer Parrett at 573-265-6565 extension 3.

Candidate applications for the board will be accepted through Dec. 22 at the Ambulance District.

Two board of directors seats for the St. James Fire Protection of Phelps County will be open in the upcoming election. Board director seats serve a six-year term and must be a voter of the district for at least one year before the election. 

Candidates must be over 25 years old.

Declarations of candidacy can be filed at 903 N. Jefferson St, St. James. There will be a $10 fee, and filing a statement under oath that such person possesses the required qualifications. Candidates may declare their intentions to run from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. through Dec. 30 at Headquarters.